Antrim Marina - Sunday 8th September 2024

Antrim Marina - Sunday 8th September 2024

This was my 6th weekly visit to Antrim Marina to study the wintering population of Black-headed Gulls and to record those with colour-rings.  Arriving at 10am, it was a cloudy day, with a slight northerly breeze which increased in strength as the morning wore on.  The temperature gauge in my car read 15ºC though it felt a good bit colder.

Parking by my usual spot beside the small concrete jetty, the gulls were well settled and a count gave me a total of 48 Black-headed Gulls.  The first ring to be read, was that of  2AAN  at 10:15, and the total steadily increased to 14 by 11:31 with the sighting of  2FJF .  After this point, rings were few and far apart, the final three being  2FJT  at 12:10,  2FIL  at 12:24 and finally  2BRA  at 13:13.  With 23 colour-rings recorded so far this winter, today saw 6 absentees.  I am still waiting on the return of another 9 gulls, four of which should have been here since August.

The metal-rung Icelandic Black-headed Gull -  543335  was spotted at 10:21, having returned for the second winter running, on the 11th August 2024.

Overall, the number of gulls present was pretty low at all times, with the 60 mark seeing maximum numbers.  Judging by the ringed gulls present, there seemed to be a big turnover of birds coming and going.

With several people coming to feed the ducks, the gulls are beginning to make much effort in trying to get their share of the bread being thrown out.  I could do with more swans starting to appear, as it is much easier to catch gulls whilst hand feeding the swans.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 8th September 2024

2AAN	2FJN	2FJK	2FIF	2CSK	2FJL	2FJA	2FFX	2FFA
2FHV	2ABN	2CJT	2ACV	2FJF	2FJT	2FIL	2BRA

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina This Autumn/Winter but Absent Today

2AAB	2BRD	2CSR	2FFT	2FHC	2FIJ

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

The juvenile Herring Gull was present throughout today's visit, with his father arriving at 10:34, and the mother appearing at 11:10.  As usual the female ignores her youngster, while father shows a little interest.  No Common Gulls again this week, and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull made a brief visit at 12:12.

Surprise, surprise, there was a pair of Mute Swans on the slipway when I arrived.  Both birds stayed throughout my visit and readily took bread from my hand.  Neither were ringed, but the metal-rung -  X4707  appeared from upriver at 11:05.

Mallard numbers were also well down, with 45 counted on my arrival.  After several feeds of bread, number decreased slightly before my departure at 2pm.  Again, most if not all legs were checked, but still rings among these.

1 Rook and 1 Hooded Crow made brief visits, while 5 Jackdaws made repeat visits.

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German Black-headed Gulls...

On Sunday 1st September 2024, I published a post concerning gull sightings made by Suzanne Belshaw and David Nixon.  Under Suzanne's account, we were waiting for the details of a colour-ringed German Black-headed Gull -  XC1V .  Knowing obtaining results when reporting sightings through official channels can take some time, I was tasked by Suzanne to see if I could get a quicker result through my own contacts.

Picking up this challenge, I sent an email to Hendrik Trapp who has good contacts of his own, and normally replies fairly quickly.  A reply came on the 6th September, with the birds details.   XC1V , was ringed as an unsexed breeding adult, on the 13th May 2023, in the Upper Lusatia region in the extreme south-east corner of Germany, close to the border with Poland.  Suzanne's sighting at Whiteabbey Beach on the 26th August 2024, was the first since being ringed.  The distance to Whiteabbey, is 1,435 kms / 891 miles (NW), and the duration since being ringed, is now 1 year, 3 months and 13 days.  My thanks again goes to Suzanne for the sighting report, and also to Hendrik Trapp for the bird's history - a good result.

Black-headed Gull  -   XC1V   -  Whiteabbey Shore, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (26 Aug 2024)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Breeding Adult, on the 13th May 2023,  at Neuteich Diehsa, Jänkendorf, SE Germany)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

In the same email to Hendrik, I enquired about a Black-headed Gull, that I recorded back on the 23rd February 2020, which I spotted on the Connswater Mudflats in Belfast.  This bird -  X17L , had been ringed as an unsexed breeding adult, on the 20th May 2017, at Germany's largest Black-headed Gull colony at Riether Werder.  At the time, my sighting was a first ever re-sighting for this bird.

In Hendrik's reply, after my sighting,  X17L  was spotted back at Riether Werder colony on the 10th May 2020, and has not been seen since.  During the summer of 2023, the colony at Riether Werder suffered heavily from 'Bird Flu' with many losses (Simon Piro).  In fact, one of my own Antrim Marina Black-headed Gulls -  2FFC  was also found dead at this same colony.  Having been tested for 'Bird Flu', the result returned as positive.  Again, my thanks to Hendrik for this update.

Black-headed Gull  -   X17L   -  Connswater Mudflats, Belfast Harbour Estate, Belfast  (23 Feb 2020)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Breeding Adult, on the 20th May 2017, at Riether Werder. Germany)

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Antrim Marina - Sunday 1st September 2024...

Antrim Marina - Sunday 1st September 2024

This week's weekly visit to Antrim Marina turned out to be very poor after a promising start.  Arriving at 10am, it was a calm though cloudy morning with the temperature gauge in my car reading 15ºC.  As the morning wore on, the wind strengthened, blowing in from a more easterly direction.

So far this winter, I have recorded 23 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls, out of a possible 34 gulls that were recorded by the end of last winter, seven of which had been caught and ringed before Christmas.  Last winter's total had been reduced by around half due to birds failing to return after the breeding season, with 'Bird Flu' the likely cause of these losses.

Arriving today, the Black-headed Gulls were nicely settled around the jetties, and a head count gave a total of 71 birds, with the ring of -  2FFX  being the first to be read at 10:02.  At 10:56, the ring of -  2FIL  was the 13th to be read, and soon afterwards the gulls began to disappear.  At times, there were no Black-headed's present at all, with the biggest gap being just before 12:30 until 13:15.   Just 15 rings were read altogether today, with -  2FJL  at 11:20 being the 14th, with -  2CJT  being the 15th arriving with a small batch of gulls at 1.15pm.  

 2CJT , is a year round resident to the Marina, and is normally among the first of the rings to be read from week to week.  Today's late arrival, makes this the third week in a row it has happened.  Among today's eight absentees is -  2FFT .  This bird is normally a rare visitor to the Marina despite having been ringed here.  I reckoned that this gull uses Antrim as a 'staging post' moving to and from it's wintering and breeding sites.  Surprisingly,  2FFT  had been recorded during each of my four previous visits this winter, as compared to a total of six sightings here since being ringed in December 2020, with the last of those six having been recorded in October 2023.

With no more returnees this week, this winter's total of colour-rings remains at 23.  With 11 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls still to return, I had a closer look at the histories for some of these.  One that stands out is that of -  2FDK .  Ringed as an adult, back in November 2019, the accumulation of winter and breeding season sightings confirmed this bird as a year round resident.  The final sighting here last winter, was on the 25th February 2024.  Although it was not seen at the Marina during the summer, a Liz Payne reported that the gull had landed on the bonnet of her car at Antrim's McDonalds Outlet on the 13th July 2024.  With no appearances here as yet, I wonder what has happened to this bird.

 2FIA , is another gull which should be present here by now.  Ringed here as a second winter bird in November 2021, in 2022 and 2023, it had arrived back at the Marina by late July and early August.  So a question mark now hangs over this one too.  It was last seen here on the 3rd March 2024.

 2FIK , is one of those gulls that is always under your feet, but not so this winter.  Although it was ringed here as an adult in September 2022, that winter it was last seen on the 20th March 2023, before returning to the Marina in late July 2023, thereafter being recorded almost every week through to the 31st March 2024.

 2FIP , would be similar to -  2FIK  just mentioned.  Ringed as a second calendar year bird in November 2022, it returned to the Marina on the 31st July 2023, remaining through to the 11th March 2024.  As this gull is now an adult, it might just take a little longer in returning to the Marina after the breeding season - could it be a foreign breeding bird?

Here we have four gulls that should be back by now.  Two other gulls that were ringed here last winter, I know absolutely nothing about them.   2FJH , was ringed in November 2023, whilst -  2FJP , was ringed in December 2023.  Both could be foreign breeders which are yet to return.

 2AFD  (Latvia),  2FDJ  (Estonia),  2FDL  (Sweden) and  2FHT  (Poland), should all return by late November.   2CTA , is the last of these eleven still to return.  Ringed as a second winter bird in December 2018, the whereabouts of it's summer holidays are as yet unknown.  The earliest return dates for this gull were recorded on the 25th October 2020 and  25th October 2021.

Although absent during last week's visit, the metal-rung Icelandic Black-headed Gull -  543335 , was among the first gulls recorded today.  Ringed in Iceland in July 2023, it first appeared at the Marina on the 21st August 2023, remaining until the 24th March 2024.  This winter, it's return was recorded on my second weekly visit on the 11th August 2024.  Having narrowly missed catching this gull on several occasions last winter in order to add a colour-ring, I'm hoping for better luck this winter.  The gull would be more visible when it returns home next summer.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 1st September 2024

2FFX	2FHV	2FJK	2AAN	2FFA	2FJF	2FJN	2FIF
2CSK	2AAB	2FJT	2BRA	2FIL	2FJL	2CJT

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded This Autumn/Winter but Absent Today

2ABN	2ACV	2BRD	2CSR	2FFT	2FHC	2FIJ	2FJA

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, today's visit was very poor.  A lower number of Mallards were present today, with the initial count of 57 birds being quickly whittled down to around the 30 mark.  As of the norm, most if not all legs were checked for rings.

Also of the norm of late, was the absence of Mute Swans.  Several people have asked me if I knew what was happening with the swans and whether the 'Blue-Green Algae' had anything to do with there absence here.  Others have told me, that there are small flocks of swans slightly south of the Marina on the eastern shore of Lough Neagh - possibly just south of Rea's Wood.  The metal-rung -  X4707 , appeared from the direction of the Lough at 11:01.  This male was ringed on the 5th April 2024, at Bartins Bay on Lough Neagh.  This is now the birds 6th sighting here, first appearing in May 20224.

Although the adult pair of Herring Gulls were present throughout my visit (perched on the roof of the Gateway Centre), there was no sign of their youngster until 11:44, when that familiar crying was once heard again.  This youngster is so confident standing at the feet of folk feeding the ducks.  Surely I can get this one ringed with a metal at some point over the winter.

Not a single Common Gull again this week, but a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived at 10:20, and were still present on my departure at 1:45pm.

3 Jackdaws, and a record high of 5 Rooks, were the only other birds recorded today.

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From Suzanne Belshaw & David Nixon...

From Suzanne Belshaw

Suzanne Belshaw has been in touch to inform me of her latest ring sightings.  My favourite is the Common Gull with a metal-ring.  Metal rings on small gulls can often be very difficult to read, and the best way to do it, is to get as close as possible to the bird, and take photos from different angles.  At times this can be very difficult, and sometimes the gull would just fly off when you are hoping it will stay put.

On this occasion Suzanne was successful in capturing the number, albeit, she was not quite sure of one digit.  Reporting the bird to me as -  EG55364 , she also thought the number might have read -  EG56364 .  Being a ringer myself, I checked both numbers via the BTO's DemOn Ringing Database.  Bingo!!, the second number has never been used.

 EG55364 , was ringed as a chick, on the 22nd June 2005, on nearby Big Copeland in County Down.  Unsurprisingly, this was the gull's first sighting since being ringed, with a duration now standing at 19 years, 2 months and 1 day.  Suzanne found the gull on the shore by the Commons in Donaghadee (also known as Coal Pit Bay), Co. Down.  The Commons lies 6 kms / 4 miles (S) from Big Copeland.  Well done Suzanne, I'm a big fan of those who can nail these metals.

Common Gull  -   EG55364   -  The Commons, Donaghadee, Co. Down  (23 Aug 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 22nd June 2005, on Big Copeland Island, The Copeland Islands, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

A visit to Belfast Waterworks on the 22nd August 2024, produced two re-sightings.  The first was that of a Norwegian colour-ringed Black-headed Gull -  J7L8 .  This is the 5th Northern Ireland sighting for this gull, with all five sightings being recorded here at the Waterworks.   J7L8 , was ringed as an adult male, on the 12th April 2017, at Lake Engervannet, on the outskirts of Oslo, Norway.

The first sighting was made by Paul McCullough, on the 11th October 2019.  The next three sightings were made by Suzanne, on the 1st September 2020, 20th September 2022 and on the 12th October 2022.  Suzanne says that she did see a gull here at the Waterworks during the 2023/2024 winter on a couple of occasions, though she was not able to check for the code as the gull flew off.

This latest sighting, take the duration since being ringed, to 7 years, 4 months and 10 days.  The Waterworks lies 1,148 kms / 713 miles (WSW) from Lake Engervannet.  Back at home,  J7L8  has been recorded during the spring and/or the summer months every year since being ringed, with the last date having occurred in late March 2024.

Black-headed Gull  -  Norway   J7L8   -  Belfast Waterworks, Cliftonville, Belfast  (22 Aug 2024)

(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 12th April 2017, at Lake Engervannet, Oslo, Norway)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Normally, Mute Swans and Greylag Geese at the Waterworks are not pursued by ringers.  However, some of these birds do get themselves into trouble for one reason or another.  Debbie 'Doolittle' Nelson takes injured animals into her care.  Some Mute Swans would also find their way into her care, and once rehabilitated would be colour-ringed before release.

We do not know if this was the case for -  NLX , but it was ringed at the Waterworks as an adult male on the 4th September 2020.  First recorded here by Suzanne in January 2023, her second record was made on the 18th August 2023.  With this latest sighting, the duration since being ringed, is 3 years, 11 months and 18 days.

Mute Swan  -   NLX   -  Belfast Waterworks, Cliftonville, Belfast  (22 Aug 2024)

(Ringed as an Adult Male, on the 4th September 2020, at Belfast Waterworks)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

Suzanne spotted a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull at Whiteabbey Beach on the 26th August 2024.  With the code reading -  XC1V , this is a bird from Germany.  As it is not on my spreadsheet, this will likely be a first ever sighting here in Northern Ireland.  Obtaining ringing recoveries from Germany are often notoriously slow, so I have emailed one of my contacts - Hendrik Trapp, in the hope he can contact the ringer involved.  For now, the wait continues. 

My thanks again goes to Suzanne for her sightings and photos.

Black-headed Gull  -  Germany   XC1V   -  Whiteabbey Beach, Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim  (26 Aug 2024)

(Waiting for the Ringing Details)

(Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Belshaw)

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From David Nixon

David Nixon has also got in touch with three sightings, one being a Black-headed Gull which flew off before he could obtain a photo.  This bird (White) 2499, was ringed as a chick, on the 17th June 2021, at Lough Ree in County Longford in the Republic of Ireland.  All four sightings for this gull, have occurred around the North and South Inner Bay at Dundrum, Co. Down.

The first sighting was made by David in October 2022, followed by a second in August 2023.  David Knight also recorded the gull at the South Inner Bay in November 2023.  A few more winter sightings would be needed in order to consider this bird as a winter visitor to the area.  David himself, along with Graham McElwaine undertake regular visits to the area, but (White) 2499 might possibly be using the area as a 'staging post'.  The duration since being ringed, is 3 years, 2 months and 10 days, and Dundrum is situated 159 kms / 98 miles (ENE) from Lough Ree.

With photos successfully taken for the other two gulls, the first is of a Manx (Isle of Man) Herring Gull colour-ringed -  T6VE .   T6VE , was ringed as a chick, on the 3rd July 2019, on the Calf of Man.  The bird's first re-sighting was made by Graham McElwaine on the 27th July 2020, when spotted at Millquarter Bay on the western shore of Strangford Lough.  Since then, all but one of the 19 re-sightings have occurred here at the high tide roost at Dundrum Inner Bay South covering the period from 2020 to 2024.  The exception was in June 2023, when spotted back on the Calf of Man.  The duration since being ringed, is now 5 years, 1 month and 24 days, and the distance from the Calf to Dundrum, is 71 kms / 44 miles (WNW).

Herring Gull  -   T6VE   -  Dundrum Inner Bay South, Dundrum, Co. Down  (28 Aug 2028)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 3rd July 2019, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man)

(Photo Courtesy of David Nixon)

The sighting of Great Black-backed Gull -  T48:D , is only the second record for this bird here in Northern Ireland, with both sightings having been made at the high tide roost at Dundrum Inner Bay South.   T48:D , was ringed as an unsexed breeding adult on the 21st May 2023, on Ireland's Eye Island in County Dublin, Republic of Ireland.  The previous sighting here at Dundrum was made by Graham McElwaine on the 17th October 2023.  Graham Prole, who responds to sightings of gulls ringed by the Irish Midlands Ringing Group, says that  T48:D  was back breeding on Ireland's Eye Island during this past summer.  The duration since being ringed, is 1 year, 3 months and 6 days, and the distance to Dundrum, is 96 kms / 59 miles (N).

My thanks goes to David for his sightings and photos, and to Mark Fitzpatrick from the Manx Ringing Group, Graham Prole from the Irish Midlands Ringing Group for supplying updates.

Great Black-backed Gull  -   T48:D   -  Dundrum Inner Bay South, Dundrum, Co. Down  (28 Aug 2024)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 13th June 2021, at Dalkey Island, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

(Photo Courtesy of David Nixon)

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